“The Amicus Curiae Award (Friend of the Court) is an annual recognition of persons who have provided exceptional service, leadership, or other contributions to assist the First Judicial District in the administration of justice.”

More from the Minnesota Judicial Branch news release:

“Patrick Cotter is the President of the Dakota County Bar Association (DCBA) and the President of the Minnesota Association for Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL). He volunteers as a judge in Dakota County presiding over conciliation court cases, and volunteers for Legal Assistance of Dakota County (LADC) assisting individuals and children who are victims of domestic abuse. He dedicates countless hours to the DCBA and events supporting legal aid and the bar.

“Patrick Cotter, J.D., practices in the areas of personal injury and criminal defense with the law firm of Sieben & Cotter. He earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude from the University of St. Thomas in 1997 and his law degree from William Mitchell College of Law in 2002.”

Patrick Cotter

More About the First Judicial District

“The State of Minnesota’s First Judicial District has 36 judges and more than 250 staff, with an average of 90,000 case filings annually in the counties of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott, and Sibley. Its mission is to provide justice through a system that assures equal access for the fair and timely resolution of cases and controversies. For more information, please visit www.mncourts.gov.”